Ski training device



seph lg 1965 F. M. GIBSON 3,207,510

SKI TRAINING DEVICE Filed March 27, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 (\l 9' LI...

Sept. 21, 1965 F. M. GIBSON SKI TRAINING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 27, 1963 FIG. 3

United States Patent 3,207,510 SKI TRAINING DEVICE Frederick M. Gibson, 50 Wendover Road, Forest Hills, N.Y. Filed Mar. 27, 1963, Ser. No. 268,493 1 Claim. (Cl. 272-57) The present invention relates to a device for practicing the execution of ski-turns indoors and more particularly to such a device wherein the technique of unweighting may be practiced in the home.

It is well recognized among snow skiers that the most essential and yet the most difficult maneuver for the novice to learn is the execution of parallel turns; i.e., a change of direction accomplished with the skis remaining essentially parallel throughout the turn. The lateral resistance of the snow (and terrain) to the angular displacement of the skis necessary to effectuate a turn while the full weight of the skier remains on the skis is well known to all who have attempted the maneuver. To accomplish the turn, it is necessary to um-weight the skis by a rising motion of the skiers body before applying the rotational force which causes the skis to change direction. Near perfect coordination of the sequence of the rising motion and the rotation is necessary to a well executed turn.

A number of ski-training devices are now offered on the market but all are essentially directed to balancing the users body over a small support. One type is a see-saw comprising a cylindrical roller and a board resting thereto, the user endeavoring to maintain his balance with one foot contacting the board on either side of the roller. Another type comprises a foot supporting platform mounted on a sphere in such manner the user must maintain his balance in all directions. comprises foot supporting platforms mounted on rocker elements. It is immediately evident that none of these devices simulate the actual conditions encountered by a skier attempting to turn the skis against the resistance of snow and terrain or provide the means for practicing the technique of executing ski-turns.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to provide a home ski-training device which faithfully simulates the conditions of actual skiing.

A further object is the provision of a ski-training de-- vice whereby the user may practice the essential technique of un-weighting the skis before applying the rotational force to effect a turn.

Another object is to provide a ski-training device wherein the resistance to the turning effort may be adjusted at will in accord with the weight and/ or skill of the user.

A still further object is the provision of a home skitraining device which, in addition to simulating actual ski turns, will also simulate the conditions under which a skier must maintain his balance.

Other objects and features of the invention will be obvious from the following description and the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of the basic unit of the device illustrating the means whereby the unweighting and rotational functions are achieved.

FIG. 2 illustrates the means whereby the basic unit of the device may be supported to simulate the balancing conditions of actual skiing, and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the complete unit.

In brief, the invention comprises a pair of foot supporting elements, each provided with heel and toe straps whereby the feet of the user may be securely fastened to the foot supporting elements. Depending from each element is a hollow cylindrical projection proportioned to fit freely within similarly shaped wells in a base mem- Still another her. The horizontal surfaces of contact between the foot supporting elements and the base member are roughened or otherwise arranged so that there will be considerable frictional resistance to rotation of the foot supporting elements with respect to the base member. Within the cylindrical wells are resilient means disposed to adjustably oppose the weight of the user and so reduce the resistance to rotation of the foot supporting elements. The base member is optionally mounted in gimbals to tilt freely from the horizontal in any direction to more faithfully simulate the balancing problems of actual skiing.

Referring now to the figures, wherein the arrows W represent the weight of the users body, 10 is the base element which might be molded from a suitable plastic material and 11 represents two cylindrical wells formed therein. The two identical foot supporting elements 12 consist of rectangular platforms 13 provided with heel and toe straps 14 and 15 whereby the feet of the user may be securely fastened to the platforms 13 and hollow cylindrical projections 16 depending from the platforms 13. The projections 16 are so proportioned as to fit freely within the wells 11 and cylindrical portions 17 of greater diameter than the projections 16 are provided intermediate the projections 16 and platforms 13 in such manner that the foot supporting elements 12 contact the base element 10 solely on the annular areas of the top horizontal surfaces of base element 10 designated as 18. The contacting surfaces at 18 are roughened as by sandblasting to provide a high degree of resistance to relative motion therebetween and it is contemplated that the foot supporting elements 12 may be molded unitarily from a suitable plastic material. Within the hollow portions 19 of the cylindrical projections 16 are located coil springs 20. One of the ends of the springs 20 bears against the upper surfaces of the hollow portions 19 while the other ends rest on discs 21. The discs 21 rest on screw members 22 which are threadably engaged with the base element 10 so that the springs 20 may be compressed or released by corresponding adjustment of screw members 22.

The base element 10 is further provided with three supporting lugs 23, formed integrally therewith and of sufiicient length to provide clearance for the heads of the screw members 22 when the base element 10 rests on a plane surface. As an alternate means of support, base element 10 is provided with a pair of diametrically mounted pivot pins 24 which have been pressed into or otherwise immovably secured to the base element 10. Furnished separately is a gimbal designated generally .as 25 and comprising a ring 26 pivotally mounted on a standard 27 by means of a pair of pivot pins 28. Located on the upper surface of ring 26 are a pair of diametrically opposite notches 29 proportioned to receive the pins 24 and thus support the base element 10 so that it may swing freely in any direction from the horizontal plane.

To use the training device, a novice would remove the base element 10 from the gimbals 25 and place the element on a level surface resting on the lugs 23. As a novice, it would be desirable to have the turning motion accomplished easily, therefore the screw members 22 would be advanced inwardly to shorten the springs 20 thereby increasing the force which opposes the weight of the user and thereby reducing the frictional resistance to rotation at the surfaces 18. With this adjustment made, the user then affixes his feet to the rectangular platforms 13 by means of the heel toe straps 14 and 15 and stands upright. The users weight forces the cylindrical portions 17 into contact with the top surface of the base element 10 at the contacting surfaces 18, but the opposing force of the springs 20 effectively reduces the friction therebetween. As a consequence, the novice need but apply little um-weighting to reduce the frictional resistance and thus elfect a turn. As skill is gained, the springs 20 may be released thereby increasing the resistance to the rotational effort. When a degree of mastery of the turning technique is achieved, the base element 10 may be placed in the gimbals 25 thereby faithfully simulating the problems of maintaining balance While effecting a turn as would occur in actual skiing. 1

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes as to the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the .su'bjoined claim,

What is claimed is:

A device for simulating the conditions of actual skiing comprising a base element having a pair of cylindrical wells and a pair of projecting pins, a pair of identical foot supporting elements having platform surfaces and heel and toe straps whereby the feet of a user are individually secured to each of said platform surfaces, a hollow cylindrical portion dependent from each of said foot supporting elements and proportioned to fit freely within said cylindrical wells, a friction surface at the area of contact between each foot supporting element and said base element, coil springs positioned within said cylindrical portions, disc members at the base of said coil springs, screw members threadably engaging said base element and bearing against said discs in axial alignment with said coil springs whereby the force exerted by said coil springs may be adjusted and gimbals having a pair of recessed portions to receive said projecting pins whereby said base element may be supported in free-swinging relationship to a plane surface.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES. PATENTS 2,455,274 11/48 Sriver 272-57 2,573,808 11/51 Ravoire 27257 2,657,055 10/53 Denham 27257 2,964,315 12/60 Dinning 27257 3,021,137 2/62 Palmer et al. 27257 FOREIGN PATENTS 227 1902 Great Britain. 325,190 2/30 Great Britain. 902,675 8/62 Great Britain.

JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner. 

